AMPAS shortens 'The Academy Awards' to just 'The Oscars'

Like Brett Favre, the Academy Awards have gone into retirement, but might make a comeback next year.

The Wrap reports that the AMPAS is dropping ‘85th Academy Awards’ to its nickname, ‘The Oscars.’ The move came three weeks ago when press releases and promotions for the award ceremony just wrote ‘The Oscars.’

"It is right for this show, but we could easily go back to using 'Academy Awards' next year," said Academy spokeswoman Teni Melidonian.

What Melidonian could mean is that ABC and the Academy’s producers could be doing their best to attract a much younger crowd. Oscar show co-producer Neil Meron calls having the words ‘85th Annual Academy Awards’ “musty.”

Don’t think that the Academy is going against its history and is ashamed of its age. During the ceremony there will be tributes to 50 years of James Bond and movie musicals over the past decade.

Producers are also hoping that bringing in a host like Seth MacFarlane will help appeal to younger viewers and renew interest. Viewer numbers and attendance in the theater have declined, and the Academy is looking to fix that.

“The Oscars have been criticized for seemingly not being relevant, and that goes to our choice of Seth,” Meron said. “He’s a reflection of the current pop culture and completely relevant. We love that.”

The Oscars air Feb. 24 at 7E/4P on ABC.